"Last year was about proving that I didn't have to be right-on and they (competitors) didn't have to mess up," she said. "This year, I am fully convinced that I am good enough to be here."

Reutter, 21, was in the same quarterfinal heat as Wang, 24, the 500-meter winner here who also won medals of each color at the 2006 Olympics.

A big move with two laps to go put Reutter 10 meters ahead, but Wang sent a message by zooming past in the final lap to win as both advanced to the semifinals.

They were together again in the semis an hour later.

In short track, anything can happen, and it did with 2 1/4 laps to go.

Coming through a turn, Reutter got tangled up with Wang. The referee ruled it was the Chinese star's fault, and that led to a very crowded final, with eight women instead of the expected six, since the top two finishers from the semi also advanced.